strangest way—I can't imagine what she's thinking about. But why does she live like this?" and she turned inquiring eyes on the girls. "I'm sure we don't know!" exclaimed Marcia. "We only wonder about it. The house seems to be all shut up." [Pg 73] [Pg 73] "Why, it is!" Cecily enlightened them. "And it makes it so dark and gloomy! There is lovely furniture in the drawing-room, but it is all covered over with some brown stuff—even the pictures. And most of the other rooms are not used at all—nothing on the ground floor. I eat down in the basement, and my bedroom is on the top floor—where I looked out that time. I have never been in any of the other bedrooms except Miss Benedict's, when her ankle was bad." "But what do you do with yourself all day?" asked Janet. "I keep my room in order, and help Miss Benedict whenever she lets me. Of course, she prepares all the food herself, but in such a pretty, dainty way. But there are a good many hours when the time hangs so heavy on my hands. Sometimes she lets me dust the rooms on the ground floor. She keeps everything very, very neat, even if it is all covered up and never used. The rest of the time I sit in my room and read the few books I brought with me, and tell myself long stories,[Pg 74] or listen to your music. I dare not now even peep through the shutters. Once I opened them, when you were playing, but Miss Benedict came in just then and forbade me to do it again." [Pg 74] "Doesn't she ever let you go out and take a walk or get a little exercise?" questioned Marcia. "No, the only times I have gone out have been just lately, when her ankle has been so bad. At night, after it is dark, she lets me run about the garden a bit, but never in the daytime." "But how did she find out about your knowing us?" broke in Janet. "Why, of course I told her—that first time after you were so good to me—all about meeting you, and how lovely you were to me. I thought she'd be so glad I'd found such nice friends. But she looked so queer—almost frightened, and she said: 'You must not speak to them again. It was kind of them to help you, but you must not encourage them in any way. Remember, child!' And I was only[Pg 75] trying to obey her when I passed you without looking up the second time I went out."
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